Abstract
Abstract Background The burden of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) among blood recipients remains low due to strict blood donor selection as well as extensive post-donation screening. However, the military has the unique challenge of providing blood in austere environments with limited testing capabilities. This study evaluates infectious etiologies of deferred blood donors at a large military blood donation center. Methods All blood donors at the Armed Service Blood Bank Center-San Antonio between 2017-2022 with positive post-donation screening tests for hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis B (HBV), HIV, HTLV-1/2, Zika, West Nile virus (WNV), T. cruzi, T. pallidum, or Babesia were evaluated. Patients were deferred from donating based on FDA criteria including a positive screen with positive confirmatory testing, a positive screen with indeterminate confirmatory testing, and a second occurrence of a positive screen with negative confirmatory testing. Results Of the 89,459 blood donors during the study period, 213 (238 per 100,000 donors) met FDA criteria for deferral. T. pallidum (n=45, 50.3 per 100,000), HCV (n=34, 38.0 per 100,000), and HBV (n=19, 21.2 per 100,000) were the most common infections seen in those with both positive screening and positive confirmatory testing. The majority of HIV (95%), Chagas (78%), HTLV-1/2 (50%) deferrals were due to indeterminate confirmatory tests following initial positive screens. The majority of deferrals for HBV were for a second occurrence of a positive screening test despite negative confirmatory testing. Conclusion The rates of deferral due to positive post-donation screening for infectious diseases were low in this military cohort. In environments with limited resources, donor testing in service members should focus on HBV, HCV, and T. pallidum as the most common pathogens. Our findings also highlight the need for better diagnostics in screening donors for HIV, Chagas, and HTLV-1/2 due to frequent indeterminate confirmatory tests. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
